A year ago, he's pitching in the (amateur) Industrial League in Japan, and a year later he's pitched at Yankee Stadium and now Fenway Park. ... He doesn't seem too overnervous or that out of sorts with where he is. ... His stuff's good enough where, if he throws strikes, he should be fine.

After a fantastic spring training -- 12 innings, 5 hits, 1 run, 1 walk, 10 strikeouts -- Tazawa started the 2009 season in AA Portland. In 18 Sea Dogs starts, he posted a 2.57 ERA. He made two starts for Pawtucket (2.38 ERA) before being called up last Thursday. (There's lots of good info in SoSH's Adopt A Prospect thread for Tazawa; and here.)

He showed tremendous poise at Yankee Stadium and although he took the loss, it's was tough to be disappointed with his performance. Elias Sports Bureau says Tazara became the first pitcher in history to make his major league debut against the Yankees in extra innings.

The last Red Sox pitcher to make his debut in extras was Phil Seibel, who pitched in the 11th inning against Baltimore on April 15, 2004. Seibel made his second -- and last -- major league appearance three days later against the Yankees. (But he's got a World Series ring!)

Tazawa will also be the second-youngest Japanese pitcher to start a major league game:

BR: Your two recent (rejected) comments were little more than the snide name-calling that is not permitted here and which you claimed you would not stoop to. You were unable to stop, however. And how moronic is it to repeatedly insult the blog owner's partner? Answer: Extremely moronic (or moranic, if you like). All future comments will be rejected.

Re - your earlier post - interesting that JoS1 day is used as the low-water benchmark for Papelbon. Disastrous, I believe it was called.Maybe, but the company was great :)Also interesting that my Yankee-fan friends and players seem to forget that even after the sweep, they're still a mere 4-8 against us. Gloat away, fools!

"The Red Sox, you might recall, have been seen as a very good defensive team — last year they were plus-20 on the Dewan. They are minus-50 this year, largely because the the left side of the infield is a staggeringly bad minus-30 and because their pitchers apparently are brutal defensively (minus-12)."

Only the 1st is earned I believe. You can't give an unearned for a botched double play. You never a successful DP. So Placido's run is earned. The last 2 were scored after what would have been the 3rd out without the error, so they're unearned.

Yeah have heard that although have also read the LF at Fenway tends tends to make the defensive stats look worse for some reason. So not sure how accurate that is (same with the rap against Manny as a terrible fielder, I think he's had better stats now that he's with the Dodgers though haven't checked it for a while)

I don't recall any particulrily bad plays on Bay's part - I actually recall 1 particular diving catch right under my eyes a while back :)I know - 1 good play does not a good fielder make, but really, has he been bad?

Another injury delay, on a walk???Meanwhile, back at the toilet - A-Roid pops up with bases juiced and 2 down, but the bad guys still lead 3-0.(I found a live stream of that game, just can't find the one I want)

SoSock--there's a difference between not seeing really bad plays and being a good fielder. His range is poor, he has a slightly below-average arm, and he is far too cautious getting to balls that drop, especially down the line.

Right - that's actually what I was asking. Since I get to see so few games, I know I don't see plays that maybe would have been made by a faster fielder, or one with better instincts off the bat. I was asking, and that's the answer I wondered if I would get. So he doesn't make errors, he just could be better.

Buncha stupid bullshit. I fucking hate when pitchers throw at people, especially in response to a crappy, wild AA pitcher going up and in accidentally. Fuck that. Youk should have smooshed him into the ground and punched him in the face.

This is cool - I went to do a couple things around the house, like fix food, and came back to find a whole half-inning gone. Scrolled back thru GDGD and saw a 5-pitch inning!Not a bad recovery, "i'd say.

I'm in Olympia, WA next week. and in a house without cable or high-speed internet. If I had an mlb.tv account I could watch the games on my phone, but I don't think it's worth buying since it'd be useless as soon as I return home because of the lame blackout restrictions.

family "work". It'll be mostly good though. Emma and I are there for 9 days. Might get to see one of my best friends from high school who I haven't seen in 18 years (weird). He lives in vancouver...I'll have to convince him to come south since I don't have a passport.